Page 52 - StudyTravel Magazine December 2016 Issue

deStinatiOn JaPan

keep getting out there, keep meeting
Karaoke tanslated
new people and keep immersing themselves
into the culture.” literally means
There are many ways in which a student ‘empty orchestra’
can get involved in a Japanese lifestyle. At
Genki JACS, Liza Kruger, Marketing,
recommends visiting the Oedo Onsen
Monogatari in the capital. “Inside this
complex is a traditional festival shopping
street with restaurant stalls, games and
more. For maximum theme park realism,
everyone changes into a yukata [a summer
kimono] first.”
For other more traditional experiences,
Japan is home to an array of year-round
festivals. “There are plenty of festivals,
especially in summer,” says Elena at JCLI
Japanese Language School. “The biggest
traditional dance festival [the Awa Odori
Dance Festival] is held at the end of
August.” Groups of dancers perform down PHOtO: EsB Professional
the streets of Tokushima City, wearing
colourful outfits and playing instruments.
Also in August is the Aomori Nebuta
Matsuri festival, a parade of huge, colourful
lantern floats with musicians and dancers. If
visiting in the colder months, students can 5 things to do in Japan
enjoy the ice and snow sculptures at Sapporo
Yuki Matsuri, held every February. 1. onsen
When not celebrating the delights of the numerous hot springs in Japan, called onsen, are a quintessential part of the volcanic country’s
Japanese heritage, students can look to the culture, and offer many different health benefits depending on the minerals that are in the water. glen
future and enjoy the technological advances cowan at yamasa institute recommends visiting the Kanaguya Hot Spring in the nagano prefecture,
of the country. Museum visits are a fun, “the hot spring that was used as the inspiration for the setting of the movie Spirited Away”, he says.
educational way to learn about Japan’s
scientific edge, from the National Museum 2. shrines and temples
of Emerging Science and Innovation (also Japanese shrines and temples are exquisite examples of the importance of religion – Shinto and bud-
known as the Miraikan) in Tokyo, to the dhism – in the country. at genki Japanese and culture School, evan Kirby suggests students visit the
Toshiba Science Museum in Kawasaki, dazaifu Shrine in Fukuoka. “[it] is an incredibly beautiful ancient tenmangu shrine in a traditional area,”
which has free entry and exhibitions on he says, while liza Kruger at the same school recommends the tochoji temple, home to the largest
renewable energy and the future of cities, wooden buddha in Kyushu. “there is also a hidden walkway underneath the buddha representing the
among other things. path of death and reincarnation,” she says.
The country’s technical talent can be
felt in its education system. “Japan is a 3. cherry blossoms
country open to technology and invests When visiting in the spring months (March – May),
many resources in research, and life in Japan visitors can find themselves in a world of pink as the
has high standards,” says Elena at JCLI. famous Japanese cherry blossoms begin to flower.
At the University of Tokyo www.u-tokyo. it is a spectacular sight, so much so that there is a
ac.jp, Mariko Watanabe highlights that the word in Japanese – hanami – which means flower
country is unique and offers many learning viewing, or the traditional Japanese custom of
opportunities. “It has leading universities enjoying the beauty of flowers.
in various fields of studies from science and
engineering to humanities.” 4. gardens
Reflecting on her own time as a student With their appealing aesthetic and tranquil nature,
in Japan six years ago, Megan at Greenheart Japanese gardens contain carefully chosen plants, wa-
Travel describes how she fell in love with ter features, bridges and rocks, and everything is put in a
the country. “Probably one of my highlights specific place to create an idealised landscape. “tokyo has
was going to a Japanese hot spring and bath many beautiful parks and gardens, for example Shinjuku gyoen
for the first time,” she regales. “I went to a national garden which is right next to our school,” says elena Stefan at Jcli
beautiful outdoor bath near Mount Fuji in Japanese language School.
December, so there was fresh snow falling.
There was something a little magical about 5. tokyo 2020
it, but I especially appreciated it because Following the Olympic and Paralympic games in rio de Janeiro, brazil, the next host city of the
public bathing is such a tenet of Japanese summer games will be tokyo in 2020. this will bring countless opportunities for students, as glen
culture. I really learned a lot about myself explains, “this spells opportunity for the aspirational international student who wishes to propel their
and Japanese people from this experience.” career prospects further thanks to the myriad of opportunities that this event will bring.”
georgina@studytravel.network

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